I-9 bridge gets further scrutiny

Blanchard River Flood Mitigation Coalition steering committee members and many Putnam County residents joined U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Karl Jansen and U.S. Representative Bob Latta (R-OH) on the controversial I-9 bridge on Aug. 7. (Putnam Sentinel/Steven Coburn-Griffis)

OTTAWA — U.S. Representative Bob Latta (R-OH), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Karl Jansen, and a veritable who’s who of state and local politicians, along with a contingent of concerned residents, met Wednesday evening on the approach to the I-9 bridge.

The bridge has become a focal point of controversy over what measures are necessary to mitigate flooding within the Village of Ottawa and elsewhere in the county.